The remaining soldier involved in a shooting incident inside the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City earlier this week has died, an official confirmed on Friday.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Maj. Cherryl Tindog, PMA spokesperson, did not identify the fatality but said the soldier sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the body, specifically on his thighs and hands. The soldier died on Thursday morning at the Baguio General Hospital.
A police report identified the fatality as Staff Sergeant Vivencio Raton, an enlisted personnel of the Philippine Army.
Raton was the one who, despite being wounded, managed to subdue Airman Second Class Christopher Lim, the gunman who opened fire in their barracks last Tuesday.
Lim died on Wednesday after he allegedly shot himself in the jaw while grappling with Raton for the gun.
Another airman, Staff Sergeant Joefrey Turqueza, was also killed in the incident.
Tindog had said that Lim had a heated argument with Turqueza and Raton prior to the shooting. Lim, according to the Academy spokesperson, was suffering from mental health issues.
Tindog extended the PMA's condolences to the families of the three soldiers, even as she assured that they will receive all the necessary assistance.
She also said that psychosocial interventions were strengthened to identify who among their personnel and cadets are suffering from mental health problems and help them to recover.
The shooting incident was the latest controversy to rock the country's premier military learning institution, following the sensational hazing death of first year cadet Darwin Dormitorio and the drowning of first year cadet Mario Telan Jr. last year.